A) Fish Ecology Research

In recent
years, I have focused on the study of invasive fish species. Fish that are not
native to the Great Lakes and cause ecological or economic damage are
considered “invasives” or “aquatic nuisance species”.
My students and I have studied the behavior of several of those invaders,
namely the Eurasian ruffe, the sea lamprey and the
bighead carp (see link above to the graduate students for details). Lab and
field studies are typically undertaken and collaboration with researchers from
other institutions (e.g. Guelph University in Ontario) is common.The ultimate goal of my research is
almost always to make the findings applicable to the management of the species;
e.g. in the bighead carp study we asked how much time remains for managers to
stop the carp before they reach the Great Lakes?In the lamprey studies, we are trying to improve the design
of in-stream lamprey traps and barriers. The field research continues in the
summer of 2012 and 2013 with studies on selective sea lamprey traps.

Left: head of an adult sea lamprey attached to a smooth
surface. Right:Sea lamprey mouth attached to
Plexiglas surface. The experimental apparatus is designed to measure the
suction pressure of the mouth. (Photo by Robert Adams)

Left: close-up of thefringe
of “fimbriae” around the mouth of the lamprey. These
hand-like frilly appendages help the lamprey to make a tight seal even against
rough surfaces like concrete. Right: Scanning electron micrograph of the fimbriae. (Photo by Robert Adams)

B) Other Research and Teaching Highlights

Since 2002, I
have taken students from EMU and other universities on annual field classes to
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands (see www.emich.edu/abroad
for current offerings). In 2005 and 2006 those students had the opportunity to
participate in a conservation research project that I have planned and carried
out in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Research Station on Galapagos. See
http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/reinhardt.html
for details. We took on the task to research the best way to combat invasive
plant species in a unique forest ecosystem. My involvement with this project
ended in 2006, but the research and struggle to remove weeds from Galapagos is
continuing through the work of the Darwin Station (http://www.darwinfoundation.org/).
We are also continuing to visit Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands every two
years as a study abroad class.

Left: Uli
Reinhardt and graduate student Jen Young at work in the Scalesia
forest on Galapagos. Right: EMU students observing giant tortoise in the wild.

C)
A New Program is born!Stand by
for information abou the new IESS program at EMU. See
www.emich.edu/iess